Study Goals:

To help your student understand that the Bible is from God(inspired) and is not just any book. (2 Timothy 3:16a, 2 Peter 1:19-21)
To show the Bible’s purpose, that it is “useful” and relevant to their life and problems. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, Hebrews 4:12-13)
To help the student see the result of ignoring, rejecting, or replacing it with human tradition. (John 12:47-50, 1Timothy 4:16)
To create a commitment to knowing and obeying the word of God. (James 1:22-25, Acts 17:10-12)

2 Timothy 3:15-17
“...from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

v.15

How does this passage say that Timothy was able to know about his salvation?

NOTE: The Bible says that by knowing the scriptures Timothy could know about his salvation. One’s relationship with God must be based on objective truth (“the holy scriptures”), not subjective opinion (one’s personal feelings). The Apostle John says basically the same thing in the following verse.

1 John 5:13 “I am writing this to you so that you may know that you have eternal life…”

Are you certain that you and God are “OK” (If you died today, would you go to heaven)?

What reason would you give for your answer?

Is your answer based more on how you feel (emotion) or what God’s word says (Scripture)?

[Do a “Spiritual Time Line” Now]

NOTE: A Spiritual Timeline is a record of your student’s religious experience. It will be used later, (to compare N.T. conversion with your student’s conversion) but completing it now provides an unbiased record of your student’s spiritual journey. Let your friend know that you are doing the timeline so that they can compare what they did to be saved (become a Christ-follower) with what the scriptures teach. If the comparison matches up, GREAT! If not, then you can make adjustments to better correspond with God’s word.

_______________________________________________________

Born? Started going to church? Saved? Baptized?

v.16

NOTE: Knowing what something is designed to do is essential to it being useful. That’s why all cars, stereos, computers, etc. come with instruction manuals. The Bible is God’s instruction manual to man. Paul tells Timothy (and you and I) what the bible is to be used for. It might be helpful to check out the New Living Translation’s uncomplicated and concise take on 2 Timothy 3:16. For your student to fully benefit from the word of God, he or she must know what God designed His word to do.

What would you answer if asked, “What is the Bible designed to do?” or “What is it good for?”

The Bible is “useful” (good) for…

Teaching - What do you think this means? Providing new information
Rebuking - What does this mean? Pointing out errors in what I believe or do
- NOTE: Rebuking is the red check mark the teacher puts on the students’ paper when the student misses it. It doesn’t mean the teacher doesn’t like the student; it just means that something needs addressed. And like a good teacher the Bible uses rebuking (the red check mark on the paper) to lead us to the next important step.
Correcting - What do you think this means? Showing me how to correct my errors, putting me on the right path, to align me with truth
Training in righteousness - What does this mean? Providing the “how to” live on and stay on the right path
- NOTE: Inform your student to expect one or more of these to occur during this Bible study. They are what the Bible is designed to do. Encourage them to not panic or freak out when it happens but to simply allow God’s word to do what it is intended to do.

v.17

God made the Bible “useful for” these four things for a reason. What do you think He wants to happen as a result of our study?

To see your life changed so that He can work in and through your life.

2 Timothy 3:17 (NIV) “...so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:17 (Msg paraphrase) “Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.”

NOTE: Dream Teacher! It’s never too early to cast a vision of what God wants to do with your student. He wants to save them, and He wants to set them apart, equipped to serve and save others. Salvation is only the beginning! He has great plans for their life! Remind them of this before moving on to the next passage.

1 Timothy 4:16
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

What does Paul mean when he says “watch your life”?

(“Keep a close watch on how you live…” NLT)

What does Paul means when he says “watch your doctrine”?

(“…and on your teaching.” NLT)

Which do you think is more important: Life or doctrine?

Which does the Apostle Paul seem to emphasize more?

NOTE: BOTH ARE EQUALLY ESSENTIAL! Watching your “life” (how you live) and “doctrine” (what you believe and teach) is essential if you want to be saved and want to save others.
If a person’s life is not right, people are not going to listen to his teachings. If his teaching is not right, they should not listen to them regardless of his life.

Let your student know that the rest of the study will look at two major concerns of God: helping you understand the importance of knowing AND doing what is right.

Mark 7:5-9, 13
The Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?" 6 He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'8You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." 9And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!... 13Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."

What happens if we allow tradition to supersede truth?

(Our worship to God becomes worthless)

How could this happen?

By not having our hearts into pleasing God.
By allowing human tradition to become as important or more important than God’s truth.

What can be done to make sure it doesn’t happen to you?

2 Peter 3:15-16
“Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”

What does it mean to “distort” something?

What does Peter say is the result of distorting the scriptures? (Personal destruction!)

Paul says that two types of people, the ignorant, and the unstable distort the scripture. What does it mean to be “ignorant”?

Each of us is ignorant in one area or another. In some cases, it doesn’t matter but in the spiritual sphere ignorance is dangerous. The good news is that ignorance can be replaced with information.

What does it mean to be “unstable”?

Unstable has to do with being undecided or double minded. This problem can only be eliminated by a firm, heartfelt decision to embrace Christ’s word and teachings above all else.

NOTE: If these two areas are not confronted in your life then distortion of “hard” and easy passages (“…the other scriptures”) is inevitable.

James 1:21b-25
“…humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”

v.21

What does being humble have to do with your studying the Bible and being saved?

Being humble allows me to admit my faults and admitting my faults allows me to get help.

Is just reading the word of God enough to ensure that a person will be blessed?

The word of God can bless me if I will allow it to penetrate and change me. (verse 22 stresses this)

v.22

How could reading, listening, or studying the Bible cause one to be deceived?

It can fool us into believing that knowing what right is the same as doing what is right.

23-24

What’s the point of looking in a mirror?

NOTE: The imagery of “looking into a mirror and doing nothing” is perfect to stress the uselessness of hearing the word of God but doing nothing with it. Who would get out of bed, look in a mirror, see their less than impressive appearance and go to work without making changes? Make sure the student knows that information without application is useless.

What’s the point of looking in the mirror of God’s word?

To see the areas that need addressed and to make the necessary changes

v.25

How can you make sure you get good stuff (are blessed)from your time in the Word?

By studying seriously and by “doing what it says.”

Matthew 7:24-27
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

What things do the wise man and the foolish man share in common in this passage?

What is different besides the outcome of their building?

NOTE: The wise man does what God says while the fool “does not.” The difference in salvation and destruction is trusting enough to obey. God gives me His word so that I can be protected and secure, both of which require me to do more than “just hear” or know the word.

Hebrews 4:12-13
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

v.12

What does the description “living and active” mean?

It is relevant to today’s life and problems.
NOTE: The Bible is not like an out of date medical or science book. Its’ message remains pertinent to today's problems. People tend to think of their problems as new and exceptional. In reality all “modern problems” are directly or indirectly dealt with in the Bible. The word of God has the answers for the person you are studying with. It can take care of their problems, directing them to a great life and greater eternity!

This passage says that the word of God is sharp and cutting. How do you normally feel about being cut?

NOTE: No one likes to be cut, but “purpose determines permission.” The following can illustrate this point to your student. Ask…If I were to pull out a hunting knife and ask, “Would you let me make a 9 inch, really deep cut in your chest?” you would (should) say “no way!” and then run. However, your response would (should) be different if I were your trusted, skilled, and respected doctor and came to you in the hospital and asked, “Can I do surgery? I will need to make a 9-inch cut in your chest. Your arteries are blocked, and you need a bypass. It will be a painful surgery but if we do it, you will live; if we don’t, you will die.” You still wouldn’t like it, but you would allow it. “Purpose precedes Permission!” God is interested in changing your inside not your outside. He is a cardiologist not a cosmetic surgeon, and all cardiologists have to cut their patients.

What will happen if you refuse to be open to God and refuse to allow His word to cut you?

God will not be able to help you.
Much like a person who refuses to have surgery. I Die!

v.13

The Bible pictures God as a judge. What standard do you think he will use to judge you?

The word of God - not feelings, mom or dad’s opinion, or religious tradition.

John 12:47-50
“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. 49For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50I know that his command leads to eternal life. So, whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

NOTE: During Jesus 33 years on earth his purpose was not to pronounce judgment but to offer salvation. There will be a time when each of us will be judged as saved or condemned. Jesus said the “word He spoke” would be the ultimate and final standard.

How can you make sure to avoid being condemned?

By accepting God’s word as your standard of how to live and what to believe.

CLOSE THE STUDY BY CALLING THE STUDENT TO A COMMITMENT AND A CHALLENGE

COMMITMENT: I commit to allow the word of God to be the only authority on how I will live and what I will believe.

CHALLENGE: “Be a Berean”?

Acts 17:11-12 “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.”

Like the Bereans I will be:

Eager to study. (Great time to set up the next study)
Careful to check the scriptures to confirm the accuracy of what you are told.
Quick to obey any newly discovered truth.